Regulator by-pass switch



June 7, 1966 R. D. BALL. ETAL REGULATOR BY-PASS SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet' 1 Filed Feb. 17, 1964 i. m .m ,um www ,m om WB@ .n au maw T .1 wa ../h em ma J Rm Y B June 7, 1966 R. D.BA| ETAL REGULATOR BY-PASS SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 17, 1964 INVENTORS. Robe/" D. Bcl/l l BY Thomas f. Cuff/s www@ J J @Tram/Eve.

United States Patent 0 Filed Feb. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 345,378 l 9 Claims. (Cl. 20G- 48) This invention relates to combination by-pass and isolating switches of the general type as shown and described in U.S. Letters Patent to Bridges, No. 2,970,192, granted January 31, 1961, and enti-tled Electric Switch.

Although the apparatus as taught by the aforesaid patent h-as no proven unsatisfactory in use, some difficulties have arisen primarily in that quite high effort is required to operate the switch with the linemans stick. Furthermore, it is diflicult in the Bridges switch to see from the ground below whether or not the switch has been completely closed upon ope-ration thereof.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide an improved by-pass and isolating switch which does not present the ldisadvantages mentioned above.

It is a further object of ythis invention to provide a bypass 'and isolating switch `which mechanically locks the by-pass swi-tch portion thereof Iin the closed position upon operation of the apparatus to open the isolating or disconnect switch.

Other objects will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of the instant invention, the power line and the external circuit connected to the apparatus being illustrated diagrammatioally; i

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken along line 3-3 of F IG. l, certain parts being broken away to lreveal details of construction;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional View through the jaw structures of the invention illustrating the by-pass switch element in its open position; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 except that the by-pass switch element is shown in its closed position.

The function of a by-pass and isolating switch is to provide a means whereby an external circuit may be selectively coupled or uncoupled with an electric power line without interrupting the service on the line. In order to effect this, the switch is broken into two lfunctional portions, one portion comprising a by-pass switch which is open when the external circuit is connected with the line. The other portion of the apparatus is an isolation or disconnect switch which couples the external circuit in series with the line while the by-pass switch is open. When it is desired `to disconnect the external circuit from the line, the switching apparatus is operated to close the bypass switch and open the isolating switch i-n that order. Thus, the external circuit is removed from the line without disrupting the electrical continuity thereof.

lReferring to the figures, the numeral designates a supporting bracket or base which is use-d to mount the apparatus to a line pole or other structure. A pair of insulator pins 12 and 14 extend from bracket y10 and are provided with insulators 16 and 18 respectively. The upper insulator 16 supports :an inner, conductive jaw structure 20, while the lower insulator 1'8 supports an inner, conductive hinge bracket 2-2. v

A pair of opposed mounting members 24, shown clearly in FIG. 3, extend laterally outwardly from jaw structure 20 and mount thereon a pair of spacer insulators 26. An outer, conductive jaw structure 28 is secured to insulators 26 to thus form the inner and outer ja'w structures into a rigid but lelectrically isolated assembly. The outer jaw Jce structure 28 is secured to insulators 216 by opposed, laterally extending members 30, as shown in FIG. 2.

Terminals 32 and 34 extend upwardly from the inner and outer jaw structures 20 and 28 lrespectively land are electrically connected wit-h an electric energy carrying line L. When the remainder of the apparatus is described herein atter, it will be appreciated that electric current flows along l-ine L to one of the terminals `32 or 34 4and thence to the other terminal and back to the line. The continuity of the line is never interrupted, the electrical coupling between the yterminals 32 yand 34 being continuously effected either by the by-pass switch or the disconnect switch to be hereinafter described.

An outer, conductive hinge bracket 36 is rigidly attached to inner hinge bracket 22 by a pair of spacer insulators 318 extending horizontally therebetween. Thus, [hi-nge brackets 22 and 36 are electrically isolated Ifrom one lanother but are mechanically interconnected to form 1a rigid assemlbly. A pair of inner switch blades 40vis Ihingedly carried by bracket 22, while a pair of outer switch blades 42 is yhinged-ly carried by bracket 36. The pairs of blades 40 and 42 are interconnected by a strain insulator 44, the ends of insulator 44 being provided with opposed clevises 46 and 48 which receive crosspins 50 and 52 respectively.

Terminals 54 and 56 depend from brackets 22 and 36 .respectively and rare employed to couple a separate electrical circuit C with the apparatus. Circuit C includes a device, not shown, which it is desired to couple with 'line L, such device often taking the form of a volta-ge regulator. As will be appreciated hereinafter, swinging of switch blades 40 land 42 about their respective pivotal connections 58 and 60 selectively connects and disconnects circuit C with line L.

Reference is now made particularly to FIG-S. 4 and 5 in conjunction vw'th FIGS. 1 and 3. It may be seen that the outer jaw structure 28 is provided with a horizontally extending contact jaw 62 which receives a conductive spacer 64 when blades 42 are in the closed position. Spacer `64 is rigidly connected with and spans the distance between blades 42. Above jaw 62, a web 66 supports a laterally extending -latch pin 68 which protrudes trom opposed sides of the web. A pivot pin 70` extends between blades 42 adjacent the upper ends thereof and rotatably carries an operating arm 72 and a latch 74. Operating arm 72 is provided with a shoulder 76 underlying the rotatable flatoh 74, and is further provided with an operating ring 78.

A latch spring entends between latch 74 and a crosspiece 82 interconnecting the upper ends of blades 42. Spring A80 is -telescoped over a spring `guide 84 which projects upwardly from latch 74. The ylatch is 'thereby sandwiched between shoulder 76 and the latch spring 80.

Latch 74 is of hook-like configuration and comprises a pair of juxtaposed hooks which lie on opposite sides of web 66 and engage respective portions of llatch pin 68 when switch blades 40 and 42 are in `the closed position. The dou-ble :hook construction of latch 714 is not visible in FIG. 4 since in this elevational showing the hooks are aligned.

The inner jaw structure 20 is provided with a contact jaw 86 which receives a conductive spacer 88 extending between the upper ends of blades 40. A pair of mounting fingers 90 and 92 are secured to blades 40 adjacent jaw 86 and extend horizontally therefrom toward insulator 16. The ends of the fingers 90 and 92 carry an actuating pin or cam 94 which is received by a cam slot 96 in an elongated, toggle actuating lever arm 98. As may be seen in FIG. 3, lever arm 98 comprises a pair of juxtaposed arm portions 98a and 98b, the lowermost ends of the portions being interconnected by a web 100. The upper ends of arm portions 98a and 98b, are swingably mounted to an ear 102 integral with jaw structure 20, and are pivotally interconnected with a toggle link 104 by a pin 106. Two primary toggle springs 108 are attached at their lower ends to lever arm 98, the upper ends of the springs being secured to jaw structure 20. To complete the toggle assembly, the upper end of link 104 is pivotally attached to a -by-pass switch element 112 which is swingably mounted on a pivot pin 114 journaled in jaw structure 20. A secondary toggle spring 109 surrounds pin 114 and bears against structure 20 and a reduced, central web 111 of element 112.

An inverted U-shaped, dielectric cover 116 surrounds the space between jaw structures and 28 adjacent the switch element 112, except forthe bottom of the cover which is left open so that the disposition of element 112 may be viewed from the ground below. A pair of loop contacts 118 is secured to structure 20 in the aforesaid space, the contacts being resilient and each provided with a back-up spring 120. In opposing relationship to contacts 118, another pair of loop contacts 122 is secured to jaw structure 28. Contacts 122 are also of resilient construction and are each provided with a back-up spring 124. Contacts 118 and 122 are biased toward one another by their natural resilience and under the actions of back-up springs 120 and 124.

Switch element 112 is provided with a pair of silver contacts 126 soldered thereto which engage respective loop contacts 118. Another pair of silver contacts 128 are soldered to element 112 in opposing relationship to silver contacts 126 for engagement with respective loop contacts 122 upon swinging movement of element 112 from its open position, as depicted in FIG. 4, to its closed position illustrated in FIG. 5. This opening and closing action is effected by the over-center toggle linkage upon swinging movement of blades and 42 about their pivotal points 58 and 60. It may be noted in FIG. 5 that the axis of pin 106 has shifted to a disposition slightly over-center with respect to a line drawn between pivot points 130 and 132. Springs 108 and 109 maintain the various components of the toggle linkage in the over-center position and a stop 134 projecting from Lstructure 20 serves as a safeguard against overthrow of lever arm 98.

Before the operation of the apparatus-is discussed herein, it should be noted that the righthand blade 42, as viewed in FIG. 2, is provided with a resilient arcing horn 136 which extends upwardly into electrical contact with a catch (not shown). Only the conductive extension 138 of the catch is visible in the drawings, such extension being provided with a bent-over, internal pocket forming portion 140. The pocket formed by portion 140 receives the upper end of arcing horn 136 during movement of blades 40 and 42 to their open positions, the resilient horn snapping out of the pocket with a whip action during such opening movement. A bracket 142 on the righthand blade 42 mounts a rubber pad (not shown) which horn 136 comes to rest against after snapping out of the pocket. For a complete and thorough understanding of the nature and operation ofthe arcing horn 136 and the catch and its component parts, the aforesaid U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,970,192 is incorporated herein by reference.

yIn the operation of the apparatus, it is assumed that the various components of the switch are in the positions as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The by-pass switch is open since element 112 is not in contact with contacts122, and the disconnect or isolating switch is closed since blades 40 and 42 are electrically connected with jaws 86 and 62. Thus, the circuit C is electrically coupled in series with the line L.

It should be noted at this juncture that each of the jaws 86 and 62 converges as its tip is approached and is, therefore, wedge-shaped in configuration. Positive electrical contact is -thereby assured when the blades 40 and 42 are in the closed position, since each jaw becomes wedged between the interior, facing surfaces of the corresponding pair of blades.

When it is desired to disconnect circuit C from the line, the hooked end of a linemans stick is inserted through operating ring 78 and a pull on the stick releases latch 74 and commences swinging movement of blades 40 and 42. During this action, latch 74 pivots about pin 70 along with arm 72 because of the pressure applied to the latch by shoulder 76. This compresses latch spring and removes the latch from hooking engagement with latch pin 68. The dispositions of arm 72 and latch 74 upon initial actuation of ring 78 by the stick are shown in FIG. 4, wherein it may be seen that spring 80 has begun to compress. Normally, pin 68 is fully seated in latch 74 and the ring rests against crosspiece 82.

When blades 40 and 42 are in their fully open positions, the blades extend horizontally rightwardly from hinge connections 58 and 60, as viewed in FIG. l. The various stages of opening movement of blades 40 and 42, are not depicted in the drawings since such stages and the operation of the arcing horn 136 are fully shown and described in the aforesaid U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,970,192. It should be noted that parallelogram linkage is employed so that the blades 40 and 42 will at all times remain parallel with one another.

A comparison of FIGS. 4 and 5 reveals the action of the toggle assembly in closing the by-pass switch so that service on line L Will not be interrupted upon electrical disconnection of blades 40 and 42 from respective jaws 86 and 62. As the blades begin to swing, cam 94 forces lever arm 98 to swing in a counterclockwise direction about pivot point which, through the action of toggle link 104, causes counterclockwise swinging movement of element 112 about pivot point 114. During this movement, springs 108 and 109 assist in overcoming the bias of the resilient loop contacts `118 and 122 so that, when the fully closed position of the by-pass switch is reached, element 112 is tightly sandwiched between the now flexed loop contacts,

As mentioned previously, springs 108 and 109 maintain the toggle linkage in the over-center, fully closed position shown in FIG. 5. It should be understood that silver contacts 128 on element 112 engage loop contacts 122 prior to electrical uncoupling of switch blades 40 and 42 from respective jaws. Thereafter, further movement of blades 40 and 42 opens the disconnect or isolating switch portion of the apparatus and forces switch element 112 into the FIG. 5 position.

It should be appreciated that the employment of lever arm 98, along with the leverage obtained by blades 40 and 42, transmits a relatively high force to the toggle linkage to effect the closing of the by-pass switch. Furthermore, once the by-pass switch is fully closed, the positive mechanical locking action of the toggle linkage assures that electromagnetic forces will not cause inadvertent opening of the by-pass switch.

Since lever arm 98 is maintained in the FIG. 5 position by springs 108 and 109, reclosure of the isolating switch with the linemans stick will effect reopening of the by-pass switch since slot 96 will be maintained in a disposition to once again receive cam 94 and actuate the toggle assembly. As the operating ring is moved by the stick back toward the FIG. 4 disposition thereof, latch 74 strikes the latch pin 68 and spring 80 momentarily compresses to permit the latch to hook over the pin.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed w as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a combination by-pass and disconnect switch;

structure provided with a pair of spaced electrical contacts adapted for coupling Iwith an electrical energycarrying line;

disconnect switch means adapted for coupling with a separate electrical 4circuit and movable .between a first location electrically coupled with said contact-s and a second location electrically isolated therefrom;

a thy-pass switch element;

means mounting said element Ibetween said contacts ifor swinging movement between a iirst pos-ition electrically intercoupling said contacts anda second position out of electrical intercoupl-ing relationship therewith; and

lever means carried by the structure and coupled to the element for shifting the Ilatter into said first position thereof and mechanically `looking `the ele- -ment in said iirst position, in response to shifting of the switch means from said first location toward the second location of the same,

-said lever means including a lever arrn swingably mounted on the structure and a link pivotal'ly interconnected With said arm Iand said element.

2. The invention of claim #1, wherein said arm is movable between `a first disposition where the element is in said second position and .a second disposition where the element is locked in said iirst position, and wherein is provided lever `operating Imeans on said switch means and movable therewith `for engaging sa-id arm to operate the same, said 4operating means engaging said arm when the latter is in -said rst disposition and `the switch means is'in said iirst location, and moving out of engagement with the arm upon said shifting of the switch means toward its second location.

`3. The invention of cla-im l1, wherein said lever means further includes a toggle spring connected to* said arm for mechanically `locking the element in said first position.

4. The invention of `claim 11, wherein said element engages said contacts when the element is in said rst position, the contacts being yieldable .and biased toward the element, said mount-ing means positioning said element for said swinging movement about :an `axis extending between said contacts, said lever means shitting the element into said iirst position against the bias of said contacts.

5. The invention of claim l1, wherein said contacts are opposed andtbiased toward one another, said element having a pair of opposed, contact-engaging portions, said mounting means positioning said element for rotation about a iixed taxis extending between -said contacts and disposed to bring each of said portions into engagement with a corresponding contact -When the element is in said iirst position.

`6. 'I'he invention of claim 5, wherein said arm is of elongated conguration and has a longitudinal slot therein, and wherein is provided a pin on said switch means and movable therewith Ifor engagement with said ar-m in said slot to operate the .arm during said shitting of the switch means.

7. IIn an electric switch:

an electrically conductive switch element;

structure provided with a pair of spaced, yieldable electrical conta-cts biased toward said element and adapted `for coupling with an electrical energy-carrying line;

means mounting said element for swinging movement about a stationary axis lying between said contacts and disposed to permit shift-ing of said element vbetween a iirst position in pressure engagement with said contacts .and la second position out of engagement with at Ileast one of said contacts; and

,lever means carried by the structure and coupled to the element -for shifting the latter into said iirst position thereof against the bias of said contacts upon `operation of said lever means, the latter including toggle linkage means for mechanically locking the element in said rst Iposition.

i8. The invention orf claim 7, wherein said contacts are opposed and biased toward one another, said element having a pair of opposed, contact-engaging portions, said mounting means positioning said element between the contacts lfor rotation about said axis with the latter fixed in a disposition to bring each of saidfportions into engagement with a corresponding contact when the element is in -said iirst position.

9. The invention olf claim 7, wherein said iever means further includes a lever arm swingably mounted on the structure, said linkage yrneans including -a link pivotally interconnected with said ar-m land said element for driving the latte-r upon swinging of the arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,879,348 3/1959 ortwig 20o-48 X FOREIGN PATENTS 208,449 4/i960 Austria.

755,589 8/1956 GreatBritain.

KATHLEEN H. CLAHFY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner. W. C. GARVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION BY-PASS AND DISCONNECT SWITCH; STRUCTURE PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF SPACED ELECTRICAL CONTACTS ADAPTED FOR COUPLING WITH AN ELECTRICAL ENERGYCARRYING LINE; DISCONNECT SWITCH MEANS ADAPTED FOR COUPLING WITH A SEPARATE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST LOCATION ELECTRICALLY COUPLED WITH SAID CONTACTS AND A SECOND LOCATION ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED THEREFROM; A BY-PASS SWITCH ELEMENT; MEANS MOUNTING SAID ELEMENT BETWEEN SAID CONTACTS FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION ELECTRICALY INTERCOUPLING SAID CONTACTS AND A SECOND POSITION OUT OF ELECTRICAL INTERCOUPLING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH; AND LEVER MEANS CARRIED BY THE STRUCTURE AND COUPLED TO THE ELEMENT FOR SHIFTING THE LATTER INTO SAID FIRST POSITION THEREOF AND MECHANICALLY LOCKING THE ELEMENT IN SAID FIRST POSITION, IN RESPONSE TO SHIFTING OF THE SWITCH MEANS FROM SAID FIRST LOCATION TOWARD THE SECOND LOCATION OF THE SAME, SAID LEVER MEANS INCLUDING A LEVER ARM SWINGABLY MOUNTED ON THE STRUCTURE AND A LINK PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID ARM AND SAID ELEMENT. 